Acquisitions

Fortissimo Films announced the sale of the US rights of John Woo and Terence Chang produced "Blood Brothers" to First Look Studios. The $10 million Chinese production, the directorial debut of Alexi Tan, was the closing night film of this year's Venice Film Festival. "Gary and the entire First Look...

Wolfe Video has acquired the North American rights to four gay titles that played at this years AFM Market. They include "Spider Lillies," the Teddy Award winner at this year's Berlin Film Festival, "Love My Life," "Surveillance 24/7" and "You Belong To Me." "We are excited to be able to add such ac...

Fortissimo Films has acquired the worldwide sales rights to Peter Callahan's "Against The Current." The film stars Joseph Fiennes, Mary Tyler Moore, Justin Kirk and Elizabeth Reaser and details a man's struggle with grief. It is currently in post-production, with presales beginning at this year's Am...

Magnolia Pictures' Magnet label has pre-bought North American rights to Toby Wilkins' horror-thriller "Splinter," the company announced Thursday. The film, which is currently nearing completion, is described as the story of a couple held hostage by an ex-convict on the run besieged in an isolated ga...

K5 International, the newly established worldwide sales company based in Germany and the UK, announced that they have acquired the world sales rights to Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor." "The Visitor," starring Richard Jenkins, was warmly recieved at the Toronto International Film Festival and North American distributor Overture Films is planning a spring release domestically. "'The Visitor' represents exactly the kind of film we want to work with at K5 International", said Bill Stephens, Daniel Baur and Oliver Simon of K5 International. "It is intelligent, beautifully made, very well acted, emotionally engaging and has a great deal to say about ...

TLA Releasing has secured all rights to French director Hormoz's "I Dreamt Under Water" (J'ai reve sous l'eau) for the U.S., English-speaking Canada and the U.K., the company announced Thursday. Currently in post-production, the film will open under the TLA Releasing label in 2008. The deal was finalized at the American Film Market (AFM), currently underway, by TLA's VP of acquisitions, Jennifer Arndt-Johns and Loic Magneron from Paris-based sales company WIDE Management. "'I Dreamt Under the Water' represents the unique qualities of French cinema to tell a fresh story," commented Arndt-Johns in a statement. "We know the film's themes of tole...

Magnolia Pictures' genre label Magnet has acquired North American rights to Franck Vestiel's sci-fi/horror epic "Eden Log," now in post production. Magnolia's SVP Tom Quinn and head of business affairs, Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Elisabeth Perlie of BAC Films, who is selling the rights to the rest of the world. The film will be released theatrically in 2008. "Eden Log" tells the story of a man who wakes up in total darkness at the bottom of a deep cave, unaware of how he got there. All he knows is that he is being pursued by a frightening creature, and needs to climb back to the surface through a cemetery like maze abandoned by a m...

Tom Putnam's romantic comedy "The Hottie and the Nottie," starring Paris Hilton, Joel David Moore and Christine Lakin has been picked up for North American distribution rights by Regent Releasing. The company plans a Valentine's Day theatrical release (February 8). In addition to North America, Regent has also secured distribution for Central America, the Caribbean and Greenland. Stephen P. Jarchow and Hadeel Reda negotiated the deal on behalf of Regent Releasing and Purple Pictures, respectively. Jon Shiffman negotiated the deal on behalf of Media Rights Capital. Regent Worldwide Sales will sell the title at the upcoming American Film Mark...

Fortissimo Films announced that it has acquired the worldwide sales rights to James Crump's documentary, "Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff & Robert Mapplethorpe." The film documents the relationship between world renowned collector and curator Sam Wagstaff, controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and musician Patti Smith. It received its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and opened theatrically earlier this month in New York. Madman Entertainment recently acquired rights for Australia and New Zealand, Sundance Channel acquired rights for US Television and Arthouse Films will handle domestic distribution in coll...

A script and just two minutes of footage were enough to sell upstart distribution company Summit Entertainment on North American rights to the unfinished sophomore feature from filmmaker Rian Johnson ("Brick"). In one of the most aggressive acquisitions ever, Summit poached "The Brothers Bloom," a m...